Feb. 5, 2009

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Kennesaw State is the standard bearer in the Atlantic Sun Preseason Poll, in voting by the league’s head coaches and released by the conference office.

The Owls received six first-place votes and 116 points to finish ahead of Lipscomb, which had three first-place votes and 95 points. Florida Gulf Coast also had 95 points with one first-place vote. Stetson was a close fourth with 94 points. Jacksonville received the final first-place vote and placed fifth with 76 points, followed by UNF, Belmont, Mercer, Campbell, USC Upstate and East Tennessee State.

Kennesaw State’s Kyle Heckathorn was named Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Heckathorn went 4-2 a season ago with a 4.98 ERA. He fanned 64 in 59.2 innings.

Jeremy Cruz of Stetson was the Preseason Player of the Year as well as a unanimous choice as an outfielder on the Preseason All-Atlantic Sun Team. Cruz hit .404 in 2008 and his slugging percentage of .704 led the conference.

Atlantic Sun Preseason Poll

1. Kennesaw State (6) 116

2. Lipscomb (3) 95

2. Florida Gulf Coast (1) 95

4. Stetson 94

5. Jacksonville (1) 76

6. UNF 74

7. Belmont 50

8. Mercer 47

9. Campbell 33

10. USC Upstate 30

11. East Tennessee State 16

Tournament Champion: Lipscomb and Stetson each received five votes

Preseason Player of the Year: Jeremy Cruz, Stetson

Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Kyle Heckathorn, Kennesaw State

Preseason All-Atlantic Sun Team

SP Rex Brothers, Jr., Lipscomb

SP Kyle Heckathorn, Jr., Kennesaw State

SP Brandon McClurg, Sr., Lipscomb

SP Pete Woodworth, Jr., Florida Gulf Coast

RP Jimmy Stanley, Sr., Belmont

C Jeremy Gillan, Sr., Jacksonville

1B Derek Wiley, Sr., Belmont

2B Mikel Alvarez, So., Florida Gulf Coast

3B Robert Crews, So., Stetson

SS Casey Frawley, Jr., Stetson

OF *Jeremy Cruz, Sr., Stetson

OF Ryan Hamme, Sr., Campbell

OF Jacob Robbins, Sr., Kennesaw State

DH Joe Winker, So., Mercer

* - unanimous selection